Your grade 6 cello ABRSM exam will be marked out of 150 and you will need a total of 100 marks to Pass, 120 marks for a Merit and 130 marks for a Distinction.  The exam comprises of four main areas:

    Pieces

    In your exam you are required to play three pieces (worth up to 30 marks each), one from each of the three lists, A, B and C below:

    LIST A

    1. J. S. Bach Menuets 1 and 2: from Suite No. 1 in G, BWV 1007. Bach Six Suites for Violoncello Solo (Bärenreiter BA 320 or Peters EP 238 or Peters (Urtext) EP 9054)
    2. B. Marcello Largo and Allegro: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in F, Op. 2 No. 1 (Peters EP 7393) or No. 1 from Marcello Six Sonatas, Op. 2 (Peters EP 4647)
    3. B. Porta Allegro: 2nd movt from Sonata in Bb. Three 18th-Century Sonatas for Cello (Faber)
    4. A. Scarlatti Largo and Allegretto: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata No. 1 in D minor. Scarlatti Three Sonatas for Cello (G. Schirmer GS26226) or The Cello Collection, Intermediate Level (G. Schirmer HL50486141)
    5. Telemann Largo and Allegro: 3rd and 4th movts from Sonata in D, TWV 41:D6 (from Der getreue Musikmeister) (Bärenreiter HM 13 ). Also available in: Cello & Piano 1, arr. Pejtsik (Editio Musica Budapest Z.14636)
    6. Vivaldi Largo and Allegro: 1st and 2nd movts from Sonata in E minor, RV 40. Vivaldi Two Sonatas for Violoncello (RV 40 & RV 46) (Bärenreiter BA 6995c) or Vivaldi Complete Sonatas for Violoncello (Bärenreiter BA 6995)

    LIST B

    1. Glazunov Mélodie arabe, Op. 4 No. 5, arr. Wells and Moncrie-Kelly. Principal Cello (ABRSM)
    2. Goltermann La Foi (The Faith), Op. 95 No. 1 (IMC 3056)
    3. Halvorsen Veslemøy’s Song (from Suite Mosaïque). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 2, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    4. Rachmaninov Lied (mute optional). Steven Isserlis’s Cello World (Faber)
    5. Romberg Allegro non troppo: 1st movt from Sonata in E minor, Op. 38 No. 1 (Dowani or IMC 813). Also available in: Solos for Young Cellists, Vol. 3 (cello 1 part: Alfred–Summy-Birchard 21030X )
    6. Verhey Idylle, Op. 37 (Broekmans & Van Poppel BRP 1845)

    LIST C

    1. F. Austin Captain Cockchafer (from The Fairy Ring). More Time Pieces for Cello, Vol. 2, arr. Bruce and Wells (ABRSM)
    2. Bartók Joc cu bâtă and Buciumeana: No. 1 and No. 4 from Romanian Folk Dances, trans. Silva (Universal UE 13265)
    3. Gavin Bryars With Miriam by the River. Spectrum for Cello (ABRSM)
    4. Bunting Dance Caprice. Principal Cello (ABRSM)
    5. Carl Davis Elegy. Unbeaten Tracks for Cello (Faber)
    6. Squire Bourrée, Op. 24. Solos for Young Cellists, Vol. 3 (cello 1 part: Alfred–Summy-Birchard 21030X) or The Squire Cello Solo Collection (Carl Fischer)

    Scales & Arpeggios

    As part of your exam you are also required to play scales & arpeggios from memory (worth up to 21 marks) - please see the ABRSM Cello Grades 6-8 Scale Book

    Sight-Reading Test

    You will also be required to sight-read some music that you have not seen before (worth up to 21 marks) - to prepare for this part of your exam please see the ABRSM Cello Grades 6-8 Sight-Reading Book which has a selection of specimen sight-reading pieces.

    Aural Tests

    In another part of your exam you will be required to complete a set of aural tests challenging your musicianship (worth up to 18 marks). To help prepare for this please see the ABRSM Aural Training in Practice Grades 6-8 Book (a guide with tests) and/or ABRSM Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grade 6 Book (specimen tests).

     

    *Information correct at time of publishing 14.03.16


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